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Material Measurement Laboratory / Chemical Sciences Division

Biochemical and Exposure Science Group

Projects/Programs

Displaying 1 - 22 of 22
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Comparative Mammalian Proteome Aggregator Resource (CoMPARe) Program

Ongoing
Comparative proteomics strives to gain insight into key underlying molecular changes that result in unique phenotypes across related taxa. Proteomic analysis complements comparative genomics by providing evidence of protein abundance, orthogonal to gene copy number and amount of transcript. To
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Comparative Serum Proteomics Project

Ongoing
State-of-the-art biomolecular analysis is no longer limited to model organisms and is becoming routine in non-model organisms. Major drivers of this emerging bioanalytical capacity include increasing accessibility and quality of sequenced genomes as well as high-resolution fast-duty cycle mass
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Consistency Analysis and Uncertainty in ‘omic Data

Ongoing
‘Omics is increasingly moving out of the laboratory and towards use in industrial and commercial applications. For instance, in biomanufacturing, there is a need for quality control when developing biotherapeutics, which will almost certainly require a machine-learning classifier to separate
Photograph of the exterior of the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML), with signs designation the facility.

HML Organic Chemical Metrology Program Areas

Ongoing
The organic analytical facility, located on the second floor of the Hollings Marine Laboratory, consists of two laboratories with a combined area of approximately 215 m2. These two laboratories provide the space and instrumentation to achieve two main functions for NIST: (1) the determination of
Map of the world, with six colors used to identify the six regional metrology organizations.

International Comparisons for Chemical Measurements

Ongoing
International agreements and decisions concerning trade and our social well-being increasingly require mutual recognition of measurements and tests among nations. The Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on national measurement standards and calibration and measurement certificates issued by NMIs
Photo montage with images of a seagull, alligator, sea turtle, and grey seals.

Measurements and Standards for Organic Contaminants in Wildlife Matrices

Ongoing
Monitoring contaminant exposure in wildlife is crucial to assess the impact of environmental contaminants on animal health. The development of methods to screen samples for the presence of new compounds (non-targeted research) and to measure the accurate concentration of known, targeted compounds in
Graphic of a erlenmeyer flask containing tilled soil, a green leaf, and yellow wheat.

Molecular Innovation in Agriculture

Ongoing
Plant science and breeding aim to develop new plant phenotypes with desired qualities, increased production, disease resistance, and traits that reduce water usage. At the federal level, plant research is conducted by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Agricultural
Word cloud with word Method as the prominent word

New Chemical Measurement Methods

Ongoing
The Biochemical and Exposure Science Group (BESG) located at the Hollings Marine Laboratory is focused on advancing measurement techniques to effectively detect compounds of emerging concern. The BESG has a long history of developing accurate and precise analytical methods for emerging organic
Fish on a ruler to measure length, about 47 cm from head to tail.

Omics Technological Advances in Aquaculture

Ongoing
According to the NOAA Fisheries of the U.S. report, in 2020 U.S. seafood consumption was estimated at ~6B pounds (~2.7 x 109 kg). Of that, 85% is imported and U.S. exports have seen a significant decline. Globally, the U.S. ranked only 18th in aquaculture production (2020). NIST aims to enhance the
]: Photograph of two vials containing human milk Standard Reference Materials.

Organic Compounds in Human Serum, Milk, and Urine

Ongoing
Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) have been specifically designed to assist in the quality assurance measurements for compounds found in human fluids. Clinical and biomonitoring laboratories rely on these SRMs for method validation and as control materials during specific analyses. Various human
Photo montage showing fill the airplane with fire-fighting foam, a spilled glass of wine on the tablecloth. Cleaning clothes and furniture from stains, Discarded Fast Food Wrappers Littered on Ground, wateproof jacket with water droplets on it. Jacket using the gore-tex technology.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Ongoing
Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a family of compounds that are distinguished by partial or complete fluorination of alkyl hydrocarbons. Dubbed “forever chemicals”, the unique chemistry of PFAS imparts a high level of stability, making the compounds resistant to
Graphic depicting the complexity of reclaimed and recaptured plastics. Textiles (arm chair, t-shirt, and spool of yarn), plastic containers (jug, rectangular food containers, and bag), and gaoline pump - along with chemical structures surround a globe with the bottom half covered with three buildings and half of a mechanical gear.

Recaptured and Reclaimed Plastic Measurements

Ongoing
Plastics are a complex mixture of various types of polymers with different chemical structures, shapes, and chemical additives. From microscopic nanoplastics (as small as 1 nm) to large megaplastics (over 1 m), plastic poses significant measurement science challenges. By developing accurate methods
Steroid Hormone Pathway Mapping

Steroid Hormone Suite Analysis

Ongoing
Steroid hormones are signaling molecules that are major regulators of development, reproduction, stress, and growth. Steroids are synthesized from cholesterol through a series of enzymes, resulting in hormones with distinct biological activities. Although hormones are similar in structure, and
Dart biopsy collection from a free-ranging bottlenose dolphin

Vertebrate Endocrine Metrology in Non-Traditional Matrices

Ongoing
NIST collaborates with stakeholders to develop techniques for measuring hormone levels as part of animal health assessment. The process of capturing and transporting animals before sampling can induce stress, which may alter the hormone levels in the bloodstream. Therefore, the collection of blood